The first signs that Coney Island would be a holiday destination came in 1829, when a crushed-shell road was constructed and the Coney Island House hotel ... The spirit of fun had taken possession ...

Another fun fact is that Coney Island was a location owned and operated by mainly ride manufacturing families, and the historic Amusement District was once much more vast than it is today.

In the early 1900s, Coney Island enticed New Yorkers to visit with its bathing pavilions, seaside resorts and amusement park. The Great Depression took its toll on the fun-loving spot, causing ...